Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

    Those things which are meant to make life easier have very often made life more complicated and introduced an anxiety unknown in earlier days. Everything now is computerized and trying to speak to a real person, even if they make mistakes, regarding billing is frustrating.  The consequence of this breeds suspicion about everything. We are almost “programmed” to not trust much of what we hear and even see.  Unfortunately, this can even creep into our understanding of faith.

     Truly, we have that wonderful axiom from St Anselm:  “:fides quaerens intellectum” (faith seeks understanding) and that, of course, is a good thing lest we receive the Faith like automatons rather than creatures created in the image and likeness of God.  Sometimes, however, that struggle with Faith can perplex us and the only recourse is to assume  that God knows better than me.  Such was the case with our father in faith, Abraham.

     No doubt Abraham had his suspicions, his struggle to understand the proposal, the covenant that God offered to him.  Already aged, settled in and reasonably comfortable ( something we all aspire to) God asked him, of his own volition, to leave it all and start a new life in a far-off land.  God made promises. But Who was this unknown God heretofore, and why an old man and his wife, and why leave the familiarity of his present surroundings?  Abraham was called to make a big leap into the unknown and he did.

       Certainly not to the same extent as Abraham, but we too are invited by God to make some leaps of faith.  Where they take us we do not know.  What the cost may be again a mystery. We must overcome our suspicious inclination because God always keeps His promises.  And just as the Lord’s companions on Mt. Tabor only later came to realize the significance of our Lord’s Transfiguration so too shall we one day know why God asks us to place all our trust in Him.

      This  coming Monday, March 2nd, at 700pm, Bishop Bambera will preside at the Holy Hour in St. Thomas More, Lake Ariel. This is his annual Lenten visitation to our deanery and all parishes in the Honesdale deanery are invited to attend. May our parishioners make every effort to be in attendance and show our allegiance to our Bishop and solidarity with our neighboring parishes.

With Blessings,

Father Langan

Faith Formation classes and the Class Mass are cancelled due to weather.

10:30 Mass will be celebrated at St. Mary Magdalen Church. 4:00 Vespers has been cancelled.

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

    How often when we encounter new people do they ask us ,  “where are you from?”   Have you ever considered looking at the ground and saying, “that’s where I’m from, and “that’s where I’m going.”  Sounds silly, doesn’t it, but it’s true.  After all; “unto dust you shall return.”  As we are reminded by today’s Genesis reading.  Lent is the time for us to face this reality but less we become dis-spirited by it we know and believe that something great and wonderful awaits us namely the Lord’s Resurrection and eventually, ours.  Lent helps us to shed those obstacles and impediments that obscure our destiny.  A destiny that began when the spirit of life was breathed into Adam and subsequently ourselves.  A spirit that had been tainted by self-centeredness, namely sin and restored to pristine innocence by the precious blood and water that flowed from the pierced Heart of Christ.  Blood and Water that has been sacramentalized by Christ Himself in Baptism and the Holy Eucharist.

    Because of the consequences of that original act of selfishness, i.e., Original Sin, we are inclined to slip back into that tainted state that occludes the brilliant glory of God’s life in us.  Happily, in His mercy, God provides a remedy to restore us, namely the Sacrament of Reconciliation.  If not already, this is a must if one is serious about having a fruitful and grace-filled Lent.  Our spiritual exercise and Lenten disciplines of prayer, fasting and works of charity all lead us to the refreshing waters of absolution when we make a good confession.  What buried trash we may be carrying in the deep recesses of our soul, what shameful burdens we heave all the while wondering when there will be relief.  Well, there surely is relief when we hear those words of Christ through the lips of his priests:” I absolve you….” 

    Have a productive and deeply spiritual Lent.

With Blessings,

Father Langan

11:20AM – St. Mary Magdalen

5:00PM – St. Joseph’s, Rileyville

6:00PM – St. Bernard’s, Beach Lake

7:00PM – St. Mary Magdalen

St. Mary Magdalen: 7:25am & 12:05pm

4:00pm (Distribution of Ashes Only)

St. Joseph’s, Rileyville: 5:30pm

St. Bernard’s, Beach Lake: 6:00pm

10:30 Mass will be celebrated at St. Mary Magdalen Church.

February 14-15

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, 

This week, on Ash Wednesday,  we enter into the Holy Season of  Lent. Hopefully you have already  given thought to how you will make  your Lenten journey grace-filled by  utilizing Lenten disciplines, those  that are required, i.e., fasting on  Ash Wednesday and the Fridays  

throughout the 40 days, and those  you choose for yourself. All of which are a means to  greater sanctification which means drawing closer to  our Lord and allowing His voice to penetrate more  deeply into our being. Reading a particular Gospel  during this time, following the stations of the cross,  participating in Sunday Vespers and Adoration, works  of charity, and giving of alms such as the rice bowl are  all means of assisting our Lenten exercises. And what  do these exercises do? They give strength to our  souls. 

I would also suggest to you to make a special contribution to the Diocesan appeal. We have reached 95%  of our proscribed goal and every year we have not  only reached but surpassed that goal. If you haven’t  already please consider any amount possible so we  can maintain our well-known reputation for generosity. 

Please refer to the various schedules for Ash Wednesday Masses and the other services contained in this  bulletin. 

With Blessings, 

Father Langan

No classes due to extreme cold and drifting. 4th and 5th Grade Class Mass postponed to Feb 22nd.